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This year I received an amazing Christmas gift – my words were actually quoted in a print book!

The publisher wrote to me asking to use a quote from my review and I was more than happy to give them the go ahead.

Even though I live in Portugal, they actually offered to ship a copy to me, which I have to admit I was thrilled to receive.

Also, it’s Penguin, you guys! I have to say I am ecstatic.

The book is The House, by Simon Lelic.

I really enjoyed reading this psychological thriller. The writing style was quite unique, as both main characters would take turns writing in the form of a journal that served as a tool to cope with what had happened.

The characters were extremely well-developed and the story was enthralling. I do recommend it among others of the same genre.

And finally, my quote:

It is quite anonymous but I am still extremely happy with it.

Has anything of the sort happened to you? Tell me everything!

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You may have noticed I did not post a November wrap-up post, which was a first. The fact is I didn’t finish any books that month, nor wrote any reviews on films or other stuff, so I felt it would be rather pointless.

My life has taken quite a turn these past couple of months. I posted before that I lost my Kindle. That alone made my reading time decrease a lot, as you can imagine. Physical copies are great but they don’t allow so much leeway as a Kindle does. Not to mention that all the books I want to read and review are there. I have been feeling especially guilty because an author I have reviewed for since the beginning of her series asked me to review the later instalment but just thinking of reading on my phone makes me cringe…

Also, a few months ago, namely in May, I decided to turn my life around. I constantly felt ummotivated, tired, with little or no energy to do anything or take care of myself. An opportunity came up to join a gym downstairs from my workplace and I figured, why not. I started going after work and at the same time improving my food habits, and I did start feeling better. However, I started going less and less and still eating poorly so quickly slipped back to the same routines.

A co-worker mentioned he went to the gym before work and I thought wow this guy is nuts. Then I started thinking, hmm, ever since I met him I have never once seen him tired or in a bad mood… I wonder if this is his secret.
Well, when daylight savings time came, I decided to give it a try. Technically I would still be waking up at the same time, my day would just be an hour longer.
Minus some days I took off work, I have since then been working out before work, waking up at 5h50 am, and I have to tell you, I really hope I can keep up the pace because I feel TONS better. More energy, better mood, I walk taller, better posture so less back pain… Not to mention I avoid morning traffic, trouble finding a parking space, crammed tube… I am still not able to catch a seat so reading time is again caught short but I usually manage only a couple of pages on tube rides and lunch breaks so yeah, it’s taking ages to finish the book I started last month.

After work I always have errands to run so by the time I get home I am really exhausted. I only really have the energy to play Sims on my phone and browse Wish and AliExpress – my two new things.

So I am really, really sorry about my silence. I am looking forward to fitting reading and reviewing back into my routine as soon as I am able to get another Kindle – that might take another month, though.

I hope all is well with you, and thank you so much for your continuous support of Ana’s Lair.

Moviewise, I only managed to watch one of the two I picked since last post. 3 Generations was only available in one movie theatre which is pretty far away from where I live and the ratings were pretty low, so figured I would skip it.
Click to see my review of the one I did manage to watch:

During the next few weeks several movies premier that I am really excited to watch. Let me know if you’d like to watch any of them!

The Experiment

26 men are chosen to participate in the roles of guards and prisoners in a psychological study that ultimately spirals out of control.

It seems that this movie actually came out in 2010 but for some reason is only now coming to our cinemas. It sounds like a really psychologically tense movie that I cannot wait to watch!

Princess

While her mother is away from home, 12-year-old Adar’s role-playing games with her stepfather move into dangerous territory. Seeking an escape, Adar finds Alan-an ethereal boy who joins her on a dark journey between reality and fantasy.

This one confuses me. The poster and trailer seem quite down to earth, although also disturbing, but the blurb aludes to fantasy.
I think it should be very interesting.

Annabelle: Creation

Several years after the tragic death of their little girl, a dollmaker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home, soon becoming the target of the dollmaker’s possessed creation, Annabelle.

I am really impressed at the trailer. This looks much better than the previous ones, a proper horror movie!

The Dark Tower

The last Gunslinger, Roland Deschain, has been locked in an eternal battle with Walter O’Dim, also known as the Man in Black, determined to prevent him from toppling the Dark Tower, which holds the universe together. With the fate of the worlds at stake, good and evil will collide in the ultimate battle as only Roland can defend the Tower from the Man in Black

As an avid fan of Stephen King’s work I absolutely need to watch it, even though I have the feeling I will be quite disappointed. There is just to way you can squeeze 7 books of this epic saga in 1h35 min. Still, I will try to lower my expectations.

Please let me know if you watched any of these and let me know what you thought – no spoilers, though!

And here are only two films I am looking forward to the most during the next month-ish.

Black Butterfly

Outside a mountain town grappling with a series of abductions and murders, Paul (Antonio Banderas), a reclusive writer, struggles to start what he hopes will be a career-saving screenplay.

I miss watching a good thriller and this one seems to have all the right ingredients!
These two seem to perform so well in their roles as well, very excited to see it.

3 Generations

After Ray decides to transition from female to male, Ray’s mother, Maggie, must come to terms with the decision while tracking down Ray’s biological father to get his legal consent.

Check out that cast! Elle Fanning has been blowing me away with her performance lately and I am looking forward to seeing Susan Sarandon Again, not to mention Naomi Watts.
This is not an easy subject and I am a bit wary as to how well Fanning will perform in particular, as well as whether the comedy aspect will be stretched a bit far, but we’ll see.

Please let me know if you watched any of these and let me know what you thought – no spoilers, though!

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So I started my Instagram account roughly a month and a half ago and figured I would reflect on my experience so far.

I started my account very timidly because I knew I would like to post pictures, as I love taking them, but I was also aware that I don’t have any proper skills at it and there is so much beautiful stuff out there. I came to a point where I figured I was either going to try and go pro, and shortly after most likely quit, or try and learn a few tips, taking it easy and doing it for fun. I chose the latter.

Since then I finally bought a better phone – a Huawei P10, which Leica camera is pretty neat. I wonder if I will ever learn to play with all its features but so far I am happy with it.

Contentwise, I would have to say I am still trying to find my voice but I am finding it difficult to stick to fully book related topics. It all started when I began browsing through Bookstagram and found so many neat decorative items that I would love to have.

I have to tell you, I have never shopped so much in decoration stores as I have lately. I am enamoured with all the scented candles and baggies and whatnot and I find myself thinking ‘ooh that would look lovely in a picture’ over the most random items.

The next step is to actually dare to light a candle so I can fully experience the relaxing atmosphere reading with a scented candle must provide.

So in my Instagram account you will find several pictures of my Kindle, since that is how I usually read:

I am trying not to post much food or beverage but I did post this:

Then I also posted a couple of nature stuff:

And art stuff:

I guess this would be my most elaborate attempt at a proper picture, I do love the colours:

And of course, my reading nook:

I have truly enjoyed browsing through Instagram, especially meeting you folks out there. I have also found some pretty nifty stuff just browsing a couple of hashtags of stuff that I love.

So this is it. My Instagram turned out to be more personal than I thought, I guess it gives a more complete picture of me because it is just much quicker to take a picture than write a blog post, at least for me.

I would love to know how your Instagram experience has been.
Also, do you have any tips to find more people, like popular hashtags of stuff we bookworms usually love, as well as to gain more followers?

Looking forward to your comments!

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I have never felt like a proper bookworm given that I did not have a proper reading nook. I mostly read in bed but now I am proud to say I finally have my own extremely cosy and comfortable reading nook!

I ordered this beanbag which is actually also a mattress so if someone wants to sleep over now they can! Don’t you just love 2 in 1 stuff? So practical.

I can see myself spending a lot of time here.

What do you think?
And do you have a reading nook? I would love to see it!

The lovely L.S. O’Dea, author of one of my favourite YA series Lake of Sins, is hosting a giveaway for a Kindle Paperwhite, which just happens to be my e-reader of choice, so you can imagine how excited I am!